Study Shows That Children Born In September Tend To Be Smarter

A rather interesting study was published in 2017 by the National
Bureau of Economic Research. It was entitled: “Stool Starting Age
and Cognitive Development” and it showed some rather interesting
results. The study revealed that children who are born in September
are more likely to have a higher level of intelligence than
children born during other months of the year. If you happen to be
a September baby, you might just have bragging rights for that very
reason.

One of the reasons why this may be the case is brought out in
the study. Children who are born in September are likely the oldest
in the age group when they enter school. Before they enter school
they have the opportunity to develop for an additional year
compared to their classmates. The study focused on estimating how
those who are a little older tended to do with her academic
performance. For those children who are born in September,
cognitive development was higher.

1.2 million students in Florida between the ages of 6 and 15
participated in the study. When children were born in September,
they tended to have higher average scores on tests every year of
their academic career. It is thought that the time to develop for
the additional 12 months helped them to have a leg up.

For the most part, September babies acted more mature than
younger classmates. They might also be better equipped to handle
academics than the others in their class. The attachment to their
parents is lower and they tend to be more enthusiastic about going
to school.

It is the advantage of being a little older that may give them
the boost over the younger classmates. According to the research,
children who are born in September might have lower rates of
incarceration and juvenile crime and they get into better
colleges.

Additional factors may also contribute to the success of
children, such as parental influence, socio-economical status,
affluence and age.

The study showed that children who were born into affluent
families were likely to be held back at first so they had a greater
advantage when they entered school. That year long-delayed
enrollment provided them with the opportunity to develop
emotionally, mentally and socially.

Between 4-5.5% of US children are delayed entering school by
their parents. It is a redshirting technique that some families
practice to give an advantage to their children. The research
shows:

“While the more affluent families tend to redshirt their
children to give them a competitive advantage, families that are
unable to do this – either due to lack of awareness or resources –
are surrogated by the schooling system, which retains their
children in grades prior to testing. This differential remediation
also helps explain why we find larger kindergarten readiness gaps
for lower SES [socioeconomic status]children that then vanish at
the time of testing.”

Children may also be withdrawn from school by the parents if
they are struggling academically. They can be put into a special
program to acquire additional knowledge and skills before
reentering kindergarten.

For those children who are held back voluntarily, a similar
outcome is experienced and it tends to be a positive thing for the
children.

There may also be something else that is of interest to you if
you have a September child. According to the study, they get better
grades, get into better colleges and are less likely to end up in
the slammer. It really doesn’t have to do with the month when they
were born, it has to do with the month when school starts.

This is not an all-inclusive study, even though it considered a
large part of the population. Exceptions to the rule are always
going to exist so sometimes, you just need to put your best foot
forward and help your child to succeed.